McConaughey's prospector drama nothing but fool's 'Gold'

The opening titles tell us that Stephen Gaghan's modern prospector's tale "Gold" has not been based on a true story, but "inspired" by a true story.

Yet, the movie never feels inspired, especially when Gaghan directs the story's first two-thirds with all the dramatic snap and crackle of wilted lettuce.

By the time something actually happens, our interest in this story and characters has disappeared, just like Matthew McConaughey's hair.

"Gold" tells the rags-to-riches-to-rags story of a modern American prospector, a corporate executive named Kenny Wells (McConaughey). He comes from a family of prospectors, as we learn in the 1981 opening where we meet his dad (Craig T. Nelson) who spends most of his time waxing poetic into a large window with his back to Kenny. (Some staging works better in live theater than in the movies.)

Seven years pass. Kenny has morphed into a snaggletoothed, balding and beer-bellied owner of his company, desperate to find something, minerals, silver, gold, anything to keep the doors open.

His prayers seem to be answered by Mike (Edgar Ramirez), a near-mythical geologist famous for finding a fortune in copper in Indonesia.

Kenny becomes convinced by Mike that they can find gold in them thar tropical hills.

"Gold" is first and foremost an old-fashioned adventure, albeit an anemic one, before it shifts into a tepid "Wall Street" boardroom drama as investors go crazy over news that Mike, after a long slog in the rainy tropical jungles, hits the mother lode of rocks: gold!

Cue the montage of drunken debauchery, poorly selected songs, wiggling and gambling that all movie investors participate in to symbolize immeasurable success, as Kenny's company stock goes supersonic.

So far in "Gold," there hasn't been a nugget of innovation or cleverness. (Although early on, Kenny explains the bird tattoo on his forearm to symbolize the old saying, "A legless bird sleeps on the wind" or something like that. At the end, the movie references this image.)

Bryce Dallas Howard brings sparkle and sincerity to Kenny's girlfriend, Kay, a thankless role relegating the actress to one-dimensional displays of support, anger and eventual forgiveness.

The pace and story pick up in the third act, but I can't reveal too much simply because "Gold" possesses so few sharp, connective moments that none should be diluted by a review.

McConaughey is the glitter in this "Gold." Throwing vanity to the wind, as he has been known to do many times, the actor seems perfectly comfortable in multi-layers of sweat, dirt and sleaze. He is the heir apparent to a middle-aged Jack Nicholson, who brandished his unapologetic Stay Puft Marshmallow Man physique in "Terms of Endearment."

Still, McConaughey's impassioned portrait of a capitalistic risk-taker - call him the sweaty blue-collar version of Ray Kroc in "The Founder" - can't overcome Gaghan's lethargic pacing and studied style, despite the screenplay from two writers on "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider."

Gaghan's 2005 oil-company conspiracy tale "Syriana" with George Clooney moved with far more determination and grit than this disappointing drama.

It suggests that Gaghan could simply be out of his element.

“Gold”

★ ½

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramirez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Craig T. Nelson

Directed by: Stephen Gaghan

Other: A Dimensions Films release. Rated R for language, nudity. 120 minutes